COLUMBIA - Plans to keep the public from knowing who has a state-issued concealed weapons permit died in the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday.

It was one of several measures dealing with the state's Freedom of Information Act that the House and Senate are taking up this week.

"If you're going to carry a concealed weapon for your own defense, I think surprise is the best defense of all," said Rep. Jim Stewart, R-Aiken. "If you publicize this concealed weapon list, it just gives the thieves a list of who's got guns if they want to go and steal guns,"

But lawyers on the committee said they've faced gun-wielding people in the past or needed to know if someone involved in a case could carry a weapon.

And others worried making weapons permits secret was just a start.

"I think it's a dangerous first step," said Bill Rogers, executive director of the S.C. Press Association. "What's next? Car dealers? Constables?"

A Senate Medical Affairs subcommittee approved a bill that would force health care providers to publicly report how frequently their patients suffer infections while in their care.

Infections are a huge problem, John Ruoff, research director for S.C. Fair Share, told the panel. And having that information becomes critical as more people use health care savings accounts, he said.